Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autism. Show all posts

20080223

Autism Diagnosis

Autism Learning Disabilities Diagnosis Currently, there are no objective medical tests for the diagnosis of autism and no reproducible genetic or biological markers for the disorder. The diagnosis is made with a multidisciplinary approach involving a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, speech and language professional, audiologist, and special educator.

Using a standardized rating scale, the specialist closely observes and evaluates the child's language and social behavior. A structured interview is also used to elicit information from parents about the child's behavior and early development. Reviewing family videotapes, photos, and baby albums may help parents recall when each behavior first occurred and when the child reached certain developmental milestones. The specialists may also test for certain genetic and neurological problems.

There is no conclusive scientific evidence that any part of a vaccine or combination of vaccines causes autism, even though researchers have done many studies to answer this important question. There is also no proof that any material used to make or preserve the vaccine plays a role in causing autism. Although there have been reports of studies that relate vaccines to autism, these findings have not held up under further investigation.There is no cure for autism , nor is there one single treatment for autism spectrum disorders. But there are ways to help the symptoms of autism and to maximize learning .

Behavioral therapy and other therapeutic options
Behavior management therapy helps to reinforce wanted behaviors, and reduce unwanted behaviors. It is often based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Then Speech-language therapists can help people with autism improve their ability to communicate and interact with others. Occupational therapists can help people find ways to adjust tasks to match their needs and abilities. Physical therapists design activities and exercise to build motor control and improve posture and balance.

Educational and school-based options
Public schools are required to provide free, appropriate public education from age 3 through high schools or age 21, whichever comes first. Typically, a team of people, including the parents, teachers, caregivers, school psychologists, and other child development specialists work together to design an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to help guide the child's school experiences.

Medication options
Currently there are no medications that can cure autism spectrum disorders or all of the symptoms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of autism, but in many cases medication can treat some of the symptoms associated with autism. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricycles, psychoactive or anti-psychotics, stimulants, and anti-anxiety drugs are among the medications that a health care provider might use to treat symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Secretin is a hormone that helps digestion but it is not recommended as a treatment for autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment for Emergency
Emerging and alternative treatments for autism range from medical treatments to diets to eastern and holistic interventions. Find out more about options for treatment, weigh the possibilities, and learn how to evaluate the usefulness of different treatments for the autistic person in your life.

20071122

Autism

Autism is a behavior disorder, characterized by impairment in social communication, social interaction, and social imagination. Those with autism often have a restricted range of interests and display repetitive behaviors and mannerisms, along with altered reactions to the everyday environment. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. Children and adults with autism are unable to relate to others in a socially meaningful way.

Different people with autism can have very different symptoms. Health care providers think of autism as a “spectrum” disorder, a group of disorders with similar features. One person may have mild symptoms, while another may have serious symptoms. But they both have an autism spectrum disorder. It is well known that autism occurs in differing degrees of severity and in a variety of forms. The term's Spectrum and Continuum of disorders are commonly used to group people together that have a shared difficulty in making sense of the world.

Their ability to develop friendships is impaired, as is their capacity to understand other people's feelings. People with autism can often have accompanying learning disabilities. There is also a condition called Asperger's syndrome, which many experts - but by no means all - believe falls at the higher-functioning end of the autistic spectrum. All people with autism have impairments in social interaction, social communication and imagination.

This is referred to as the triad of impairments, Social interaction like difficulty with social relationships means appearing aloof and indifferent to other people. Then Social communication like difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication that means not really under-standing the meaning of gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice and Flexibility in thinking and behaving like difficulty in the development of play and imagination that means having a limited range of imaginative activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively.